Virginia: Health Officials Investigating TB Positives at Women's Prison

On Friday, Virginia prison officials halted inmate transfers and family visitation at the state's four women's prisons, citing an "unusually high number" of positive tests for TB exposure at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland. Michele Stoll, spokesperson for the State Department of Health, said no active cases of TB were found at the prison's annual screening. Virginia's women's prisons house a total of 2,150 inmates.

At the Health Department's recommendation, the Department of Corrections also canceled visits from volunteers who conduct various programs for prisoners. "I think that's a really safe precaution," Stoll said. Health officials react quickly to reports of TB in prison because of the potential for a rapid spread of infection.

Prison officials at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, the state's largest women's prison, with 1,200 inmates, told inmates of the precautionary steps. The inmates were perplexed that the positive tests weren't caught at VCCW before any transfers were made, according to inmate Marguerite Richardson.

Stoll said there were no reports of any VCCW staff testing positive for TB exposure. In addition to the Goochland and Fluvanna facilities, Virginia operates two other women's prisons: the Pocahontas Correctional Unit with 260 inmates and the Brunswick Work Center for Women with 190 inmates.

Back to other news for August 25, 2003